If you want to keep your mind strong as you age, you should be eating more of this . . .
Studies have suggested that eating more carotenes may keep cognitive function strong. But this large study finally put it to the test. Could getting more carotenes in your diet contribute to stronger cognitive functioning as you age?
Yup! A large, long term study of 49,493 women found that it really does.
The women had an average age of 48 when the study started. It monitored how much carotenes they get in their diet and followed them for 28-30 years.
It found that the women who got more carotenes in their diet had lower odds of having only moderate or poor cognitive function when they were older. Compared to women with the least carotenes in their diet, the ones who got the most had 14% lower chance of having moderate cognitive function and 33% lower chance of declining to poor cognitive function. Both of those benefits are significant.
Beneficial carotenes included beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopenel, lutein + zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin.
So, if you want to keep your brain young as you age, pack your diet with fruits and veggies that are packed with carotenes.
J Nutr 2020;150(7):1871-1879
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